Abstract
Long-term usage of benzodiazepines for anxiety and sleeping disorders results in a decline in effectiveness and an increase in the risk of dependence and side-effects over time. For this reason, in 2009, benzodiazepines for anxiety and sleeping disorders were disinvested (i.e. reimbursement was discontinued) in the Netherlands. Several factors contributed to disinvestment: the broad support from involved actors for disinvestment, the possibility to keep reimbursing benzodiazepines for patients groups for whom long-term use is indicated, patient groups that were not well organized, and the fact that long-term benzodiazepine use for anxiety and sleeping disorders is not medically necessary as well as ineffective. In the first year following disinvestment, the usage of benzodiazepines decreased with 15%. In subsequent years, usage stabilized, after which it decreased again.
| Translated title of the contribution | The disinvestment of benzodiazepines: what aspects contributed to the decision to discontinue reimbursement? |
|---|---|
| Original language | Dutch |
| Pages (from-to) | D6137 |
| Journal | Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde |
| Volume | 165 |
| Publication status | Published - 16 Sept 2021 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Anti-Anxiety Agents/adverse effects
- Anxiety
- Anxiety Disorders/drug therapy
- Benzodiazepines/adverse effects
- Humans
- Netherlands
- Sleep Wake Disorders
- Substance-Related Disorders